Patriots Vs. Colts: 4th-and-2

With 2:11 to play in the 4th quarter of Sunday night's Patriots/Colt's showdown, the New England Patriots had the ball and a 34-28 lead. They were faced with 4th down and 2 yards to go from their own 28 yard line. Conventional wisdom tells almost anyone to punt. Give the ball back to Indianapolis, who, in 2 of their last 3 drives, scored in less than 2 and a half minutes. A Chris Hansen punt, who averaged 44 yards per punt in this game, from the Patriots 28 yard line would have given the Colts the ball at their own 28 yard line, needing 72 yards in just under 2 minutes and with 2 time outs.

The punt team did not get the nod, as coach Belichick kept the offense on the field. With an empty back field Brady took the snap and threw a shot pass, complete, to Kevin Faulk in the flat. A first look it appeared to be a first down, but immediately the official came in and said Faulk bobbled the ball, and the spot was about a foot short of the first down. With no time outs, and the play being run before the 2 minute warning, the Patriots weren't able to challange the call. Thus, turning the ball over on downs. Inianapolis marched 28 yards and scored fairly easily with 13 second left in the game to beat the Patriots.

Bill Belichick is known as a "football genius", prepairing for every possible senario. For the first time I can remember, It seemed as though Belichick had not plan for what to do if they didn't make the first down on 4th and 2. When the Colts went in for the game winning score, their first play was a pass play that got them down to the 14 yard line. Their secon play was a run play in which Joseph Addai ran and was tackled at the 1 yard line with 1:15 remaining in the game. In this situation, Belichick needed to break the cardinal rule in football, and let Addai score! Had they done this, the score would have been 35-34. The Patriots would have gotten the ball back in the hands of Tom Brady with over a minute to go, and they only need to get into field goal range. Brady had already accumulated over 300 yards passing had his was this the Colts defense almost all game. When 4th and 2 didn't work. They needed to get the ball back in Brady's hands and they didn't do it.